Dispenser with dip tube

ABSTRACT

A dispenser comprising a squeezable container having a normally closed valve for preventing feed back of liquid being dispensed from the container and including means mounting the valve in association with a measuring cup at the top of the container and a dip tube which extends from the top substantially throughout the length of the container.

United States Patent Schwartzman [15] 3,705,668 [451 Dec. 5, 1972 [54]DISPENSER WITH DIP TUBE [72] Inventor:

Circle, Scarsdale, N.Y. 10583 [22] Filed: Nov. 14, 1969 [21] Appl. No.:876,705

Gilbert Schwartzman, 20 Wilmot 3,506,162 4/1970 Schwartzman ..239/327 X2,761,833 9/1956 Ward ..222/207 X 3,246,807 4/1966 Micallef ..222/207465,049 12/ l 891 Puffer ..222/464 Primary Examiner-Robert B. ReevesAssistant Examiner-James M. Slattery Attorney-Kenneth S. Goldfarb [5 7]ABSTRACT A dispenser comprising a squeezable container having a normallyclosed valve for preventing feed back of liquid being dispensed from thecontainer and including meansmounting the valve in association with ameasuring'cup at the top of the container and a dip 56 R i C't d 1 eerences I e tube which extends from the top substantially UNITED STATESPATENTS throughout the length of the container.

3,438,554 4/1969 Schwartzman ....222/496 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Lili DISPENSER WITH DTP TUBE This invention relates to a dispensingcontainer having means for carefully measuring a predetermined amount ofliquid while being provided with means for preventing feed back of theliquid into the container while also assuring a flow only of the liquidinto the measuring cup.

Various types of liquid detergents, enzymes, and other chemical agentsare now being sold for use in washing machines. It is often desirablefor the user to pour a precise amount of liquid into the washingmachine. Heretofore there have been provided measuring cups, markings oncontainers, and the like all of which have proven to be unsatisfactory.The present invention provides means for metering and dispensing theseliquids forlaundry as well as other materials such as cosmetics andpharmaceuticals and the like in a convenient manner whereupon a preciseamount of the liquid may be dispensed and in which excess liquid isprevented from being accidentally lost or spilled.

The concept of this invention features the use of a valve arrangementwhich will prevent the return of liquid which has already been dispensedeven though already dispensed liquid surrounds the opening through whichit is being dispensed. 7

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in theprovision of a dispenser adapted to be used in conjunction with aconventional squeeze bottle container or the like which is made ofreadily available materials, such as synthetic plastics so as to enablewide use and distribution, and in which the metering head can be used inconjunction with numerous refillable bottles of liquid as may bedesired.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of thisinvention, which will become apparent as the following descriptionproceeds, are attained by this dispenser with dip tube, a preferredembodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, by wayof example only, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a container employing thedispenser comprising the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the plane of line 2-2in FIG. 1; and

MG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, but showing the manner inwhich fluid is metered upon squeezing of the container.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein likereference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views,reference numeral is used to generally designate a squeeze container ofconventional type and made of any suitable plastic material, such aspolyethylene or the like. The container is provided with a neck portion12 which is externally threaded as at 14. A cap 16 which is internallythreaded at 18 is threadedly removably secured on the neck and includesa top 26. The top 26 has integrally formed therewith a. projectingportion 22 which depends downwardly therefrom and is provided with arecess 24 therein. A cylindrical portion 26 extends upwardly from thetop as a part of the top 20 and the top 20 has an opening 28 thereinwhich is tapered at the upper portion of the cylindrical portion 26 toform a valve seat 30.

It is within the concept of the present invention that an arrangementeliminating the cylindrical portion 26,

lntegrally formed with the top is a truncated conical measuring cup 32which surrounds the cylindrical portion 26 and opening 28 and may beprovided with any suitable indicia thereon for indicating that fillingof the cup 32 to a particular level will equal a certain amount ofliquid. The entire cap 16 may be :formed of any suitable molded plasticmaterial, and may be transparent or translucent as desired.

Disposed in the opening 28 is an anti-suck back device in the form of avalve assembly generally indicated at 34 and of the type shown in US.Pat. No. 3,438,554 of Gilbert Schwartzman, issued Apr. 15, 1969 forAnti-Suck Back Device for Tubes. This valve assembly includes a valvehead 36 of truncated conical shape which is adapted to seat against thevalve seat 30 and further includes a stem 38 integral with the valvehead and with a base 40. integrally connecting the valve head 36 with aring 42 are a plurality of helical coils 44 which extend between thebase and the ring and are normally under compression so as to draw thevalve head 36 downwardly against the valve seat 30. The ring bearsagainst a shoulder 46 defined by the recess 24 and fluid can passthrough the opening 48 in the center of the ring.

A dip tube 50 has its upper end press fitted within the recess and bearsagainst the ring 412 firmly holding the ring in position. The dip tubeextends adjacent the bottom 52 of the container 10 which is filled withthe liquid 54 to be dispensed. The dip tube prevents air frornbeingbubbled through already dispensed liquid as the container is squeezedand assures full functioning of the measuring and dispensing arrangementfor substantially the entire contents of the container.

Venting means 56 is provided and includes a tubular projection 58integral with the head and which extends downwardly. A valve assembly 60is disposed in the tubular projection 58 and includes a cylindricalvalve head 62 which cooperates with a valve seat 64 defined by anaperture in the top 20. Helical springs 66 are integral with the valvehead 62 and a ring 68. The ring 68 is held in place by the swaged lowerend 70 of the tubular portion 58 holding the springs 66 undercompression, the springs 66 being integral with the ring 68.

In use, when it is desired to fill the measuring cup 32 to apredetermined level the container 10 is squeezed forcing fluid up thedip tube and thence through the opening 28 into the measuring cup 32.Upon release of the container, the springs 44 will close while theoutside pressure will depress the springs 66 to equalize the pressurewithin the container 10. Of course, only a small amount of fluid need bedispensed to exactly fill the container to a desired level, a lightsqueeze of the container causing a small amount of liquid to enter themeasuring cup 32.

A latitude of modification, substitution and change is intended in theforegoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of theinvention will be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures.

l claim:

1. A dispenser comprising a squeezable container having a top providedwith an opening therein for permitting fluid flow therethrough anddefining a valve seat, a projecting portion depending from said top,said projection portion having a recess therein communicating with saidvalve seat, a valve assembly including a valve member disposed in saidopening and having a valve head engaging said valve seat for closingsaid opening, a ring of larger diameter than said opening disposed insaid recess, and spring means integrally interconnecting said valve headand said ring and being under compression normally urging said valvehead against said valve seat, and an elongated tube seated in saidrecess and extending substantially the length of said container, andvent valve means in said top, said tube engaging said ring, said tubebeing press fitted in said recess holding said ring in said recess.

2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said vent valve meansincludes a tubular projection integral

1. A dispenser comprising a squeezable container having a top providedwith an opening therein for permitting fluid flow therethrough anddefining a valve seat, a projecting portion depending from said top,said projection portion having a recess therein communicating with saidvalve seat, a valve assembly including a valve member disposed in saidopening and having a valve head engaging said valve seat for closingsaid opening, a ring of larger diameter than said opening disposed insaid recess, and spring means integrally interconnecting said valve headand said ring and being under compression normally urging said valvehead against said valve seat, and an elongated tube seated in saidrecess and extending substantially the length of said container, andvent valve means in said top, said tube engaging said ring, said tubebeing press fitted in said recess holding said ring in said recess.
 2. Adispenser according to claim 1, wherein said vent valve means includes atubular projection integral with said top, said top having an aperturetherein, and a valve assembly seated in said tubular projection normallyclosing said opening and selectively permitting air to enter saidopening.
 3. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said top includesan upwardly extending cylindrical portion, said opening extendingthrough said cylindrical portion, and a truncated conical measuring cuprising upwardly from said top, said cup surrounding said cylindricalportion.